Combined life-preserver and body-protector.



E. H. GAGNON.

COMBINED LIFE PRESERVER AND BODY PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION men JAN. 22, 1915.

1 9 1 3 05 Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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INVENTOH IHE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTc-LITHQ. WASHINGTON D C.

E. H. GAGNON.

COMBINED LIFE PR ESERVER AND BODY PROTECTOR. APPLICATION man JAN.22. 1915.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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ERNEST H. GAG-NON, OF BILLINGS, MONTANA.

COMBINED LIFE-PRESERVER AND BODY-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed January 22, 1915. Serial No. 3,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Emvnsr H. GAcNoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Billings, Yellowstone county, Montana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Life-Preservers and Body-Protectors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section in perspective showing the construction of the adjacent portions of the two piece preserver and protector and also the joint between them; Fig. 3 is a sectional view through these portions of the protector; Fig. 4: is an elevation of a portion of the same; and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view further illustrating the joint.

My invention has relation to a combined life preserver and body protector, and is designed to provide a life preserver which will hold the body of the wearer in an upright position in the water, with the head and shoulders well above the. surface of the water Also to provide'a device of this character which will effectually protect the body of the wearer. In the accomplishment of these objects, I provide a life preserver in the form of a two-piece garment comprising at waist portion and a trouser portion, the waist portion and also the trouser portion, if desired, being provided with air chambers, which can be inflated to the desired extent, and the two sections of the garment being united by a waterproof joint adjacent to the waist line.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 2 designates the waist portion of the preserver, and 3 the trouser portion. The waist portion is formed with inner and outer walls of elastic water and air-proof material of any suitable character, such, for instance, as

that commonly employed in the manufacture of inflatable air cushions. This air chamber preferably extends into the sleeve portions, as indicated at 4, in Fig. 1. At the neck, the waist portion is provided with an elastic collar 5, which may be made, by its elasticity, to fit closely the neck and throat and thus exclude the water. sleeve may be provided with elastic wristlets 6, which will hug the wrists in a similar The manner; and I preferably also provide gloves 7 fittting over the wristlets and also having elastic tight-fitting wrist portions. At the waist, the inner and outer fabric walls are secured to a metallic reinforce, which is shown as consisting of a troughshaped annular inner member 8, and inner and outer annular plates 9 and 10. Preferably, these will be formed of aluminum to decrease the weight of the preserver. The inner and outer walls of the member 8 may be reinforced at intervals by the radial braces 11. Secured to the under side of the member 8, between suitable metallic reinforces 12, is an annular rib 13 of rubber or other somewhat yielding material, and which is for the purpose of forming a oint with the transverse portion of the preserver in the manner hereinafter described.

The trouser portion is provided at the waist with a surrounding air chamber 1 1. The top of this chamber is formed by a metallic reinforcing member 15, similar to the member 8, but in reverse position, the fabric 16, forming this pocket, being secured at its upper edges between the depend ing flanges of the member 15 to the reinforcing plates 17 and 18. The leg portions of the trouser are of a single thickness of waterproof material and terminate at their lower ends in integral boot or shoe portions 19. These portions, together with the legs, are preferably made sufliciently large so that the wearer need not remove his shoes and trousers in getting into the preserver. Secured tothe upper surface of the member 15 are two separated annular strips 20 'of rubber or other similar material, having beveled inner faces which form between them a wedge-shaped channel 21, to receive the lower end of the rib 13, before referred to. The strips 20 are secured in place by the shaped metal strips 22, each of these strips preferably having an outwardly bent upper flange 23, which is reinforced at its upper edge by a wire 24:. The upper edges of the metal strips 10 and 17 are preferably reinforced in a similar manner by wires 25. In order to secure the two portions together, any suitable means may be employed. In

the construction shown, the flanges 23 are provided at intervals with spring tongues or catches 26 (see Fig. 5) which will engage exposed portions 24: of the reinforcing wires 24 when the two portions are brought together. The Wires 25 of the waist portion are also provided at intervals with. depending pivoted loops 27, which are adapted to be engaged by flexible metal straps 28, pivoted on the wires of the trouser portion. Keepers 29 are provided for the free ends of these straps. WVhen thestraps are engaged with the loops 27 and tightly drawn down, the two sections of the garment will notonly be drawn tightly together, so as to wedge the rib 13in the channel 21, to form a Watertight joint, but will also support the trouser portion. The member 15 may be provided with one or more openings 30, connecting the air chamber 14.- with the channel '21; and the rubber strip 13 is shown as having an air port 31 (see Fig. 3) controlled by a magnetic check valve 32.

33 designates an inflating tube, which may be provided with the usual automatic valve, and34t a suitable outlet valve communicating with the interior of the waist portion of the preserver. V

The valve 32, port 31 and opening provide means whereby when the interior of the waist is inflated, air will pass through intothe air pocket 14k, and cause it also to be inflated. I may, however, in some cases, omit the means for inflating the air pocket 14, asthe air pocket in .the waist may give sufficient buoyancy to the preserver. The

trouser portion may .be provided with hooks :or other means, as'indicated at 35, for temporary engagement with the clothes of the wearer, while putting 'therwaist portion on over the head.

, The buoyancy imparted to the preserver by the air pockets when inflated will be suflicient to hold the body of the wearer in an upright position in the water, somewhat as indicated in Fig. 1, with the head and shoulders well above the water; These air 7 Jpockets, together with thecharacter of the 'material of which the preserver' is constructed, form a protection to the wearer against the cold of the atmosphere and of V the water :and enable him to remain in safety in the water for a considerable period of time, notwithstanding low temperatures.

It will be readily understood that various changes may be made in the details of constructionand arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as. defined in the appended claims. Thus, the waterproof joint between the two sections of the preserver may be constructed in various ways, any suitable means may be employed for maintaining this joint in a tight condition and supporting the trouser portion of the preserver, and various other changes may be made.

I claim:

1. combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a two-piece garment,

having a separable water-tight joint between them, said joint being formed by nprotector, comprising a separable two piece garment, the two pieces having a watertight joint between them, and said joint being formed by annular metallic members carried by the garment pieces and having their opposed horizontal surfaces provided with tightly interfitting gasket members, together with clamping means for drawing said members together in a vertical direction; substantially as described.

4:. A combined life preserver and body rotector com arisin a se )arable two new garment, the two pieces having a watertight joint between them, each of the pieces having at its meeting portion a troughshaped metallic reinforce having opposing surfaces, and the joint being formed by gasket members carried by the reinforce, and having a wedging interfit in a vertical direction; substantially as described.

5. A combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a separable two piece garment, the two pieces having a watertight joint between them, and said joint being formed by annular metallic members carried by the garment pieces and having their opposed horizontal surfaces provided with tightly interfitting gasket members, together with clamping means for drawing said members together in a vertical direction, the upper piece having a double wall inflatable air chamber therein whose bottom wall is formed by the metallic member of said piece; substantially as described.

6. A combined life preserver and body portector, comprising a waist portion formed with double lateral walls inclosing an air chamber, the bottom wall of said chamber being formed by a metallic troughshaped manner; substantially as described.

7. A combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a waist portion formed with double lateral walls inclosing an air chamber, the bottom wall of said chamber being formed by a metallic troughshaped member, and a trouser-portion having an annular air-pocket at its waist whose upper wall is formed by an inverted troughshaped member; substantially as described.

8. A combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a waist portion formed with double lateral walls inclosing an air chamber, the bottom wall of said chamber being formed by a metallic troughshaped member, and a trouser-portion having an annular air-pocket at its aist Whose upper Wall is formed by an inverted troughshaped member, together with means carried by said trough-shaped members which co-act to form a Water-tight joint; substantially as described.

9. A combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a Waist portion formed With double lateral Walls inclosing an air chamber, the bottom Wall of said chamber being formed by a metallic troughshaped member, and a trouser-portion having an annular air-pocket at its Waist, and there being a valved air-passage connecting said annular air-pocket With the air chamber in the Waist portion; substantially as described.

10. A combined life preserver and body protector, comprising a Waist portion formed With double lateral Walls inclosing an air chamber, the bottom Wall of said chamber being formed by a metallic troughshaped member, and a trouser-portion having an annular air-pocket at the Waist Whose upper Wall is formed by an inverted troughshaped member, together With means carried by said trough-shaped members Which co-act to form a Water-tight joint, and there being a valved air-passage connecting the annular air-pocket With the air chamber in the Waist portion; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST H. GAGNON.

Witnesses:

H. M. CoRWIN, GEO. H. PARMELEE.

melee of this patent maybe ebteined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C." 

